The Cell Cycle

     Cell cycle- (http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/mobileart.asp?articlekey=7107)

     A cell is the basic unit of life.

     How do we make new cells?

     A cell is a microscopic structure containing nuclear and cytoplasmic material enclosed by a semipermeable membrane and, in plants, a cell wall; the basic structural unit of all organisms.  We have prokaryotic cells and eukaryotic cells.

     A prokaryotic cell possesses a simple structure with no nuclear envelope and usually a single circular chromosome. A eukaryotic cell possesses a more complex structure, with a nucleus and multiple linear chromosomes consisting of DNA complexed to histone proteins.

     Cell reproduction requires a copy of the genetic material, separation of the copy, and cell division. In a prokaryotic cell, the single chromosome replicates, each copy moves toward opposite sides of the cell, and the cell divides. In eukaryotic cells, reproduction requires mitosis and meiosis to ensure that a complete set of genetic information is transferred to each new cell.  In eukaryotic cells, chromosomes are typically found in homologous pairs.

     Functional chromosomes consist of a centromeres, telomeres, and multiple origins of replication. The centromere is the point at which the kinetochore assembles and to which microtubules attach.  Telomeres are the stable ends of chromosomes.  After a chromosome is copied, the two copies remain attached to the centromere, forming sister chromatids.

     The cell cycle consists of the stages through which a eukaryotic cell passes between cell divisions.  It consists of:  G-subzero, Interphase, G-subone, A-phase, G-subtwo, M-phase, Prophase, Prometaphase, Metaphase, Anaphase, Telophase, and Cytokinesis.

     "The cell cycle governs the entire life of a cell, including growth, division and death. There are defined phases of the cell cycle, during which the cell grows, duplicates its DNA and eventually divides into two new cells (http://sciencing.com/cell-cycle-20206.html)."

     At the end of the cell cycle the chromosomes line up in the center of the cell.  Sister chromatids separate and become independent chromosomes, which then migrate to opposite ends of the cell.  The nuclear membrane reforms around chromosomes at each end of the cell, and the cytoplasm divides.

     Mitosis results in the production of two genetically identical cells. Progression through the cell cycle is controlled by interactions between cyclins and cyclin-dependent kinases.

     Sexual reproduction produces genetically variable progeny and allows for accelerated evolution.  It includes meiosis, in which haploid sex cells are produced, and fertilization, the fusion of sex cells.

     The major events of meiosis include: Meiosis one, Prophase one, Metaphase one, Anaphase one, Telophase one, Cytokinesis, Meiosis two, Prophase two, Metaphase two, Anaphase two, Telophase two, and Cytokinesis.

     Genetic variation in meiosis is produced by crossing over and by the random distribution of maternal and paternal chromosomes.  The result of meiosis is the production of four haploid cells that are genetically variable.

     "Genetic variation can refer to differences between individuals or to differences between populations. Mutation is the ultimate source of genetic variation, but mechanisms such as sexual reproduction and genetic drift contribute to it as well (https://geneed.nlm.nih.gov/topic_subtopic.php?tid=48&sid=50)."

     Grasping mitosis and meiosis requires more than simply memorizing the sequence events that take place in each stage, although these events are important.  The key is to understand how genetic information is apportioned in the course of cell reproduction through a dynamic interplay of DNA synthesis, chromosome movement, and cell division.  These processes bring about the transmission of genetic information and are the basis of similarities and differences between parents and progeny.

Douglas McGregor Theory X and Theory Y

     In our present society, we work at jobs with many different individuals.  Organizations have managers.

     We have to cope with taking orders, at some point, so that the job is consistent.  Some people that give the orders are managers.  Are you, as a manager, able to do the job without getting stressed out, or over worked?  Your performance is a stepping stone.  Career paths are long, and arduous.  The paths are clearly cut, though. Managerial positions have been researched.  Many books are available on the subject of how to be the best manager possible.

     You have heard of Douglas McGregor.  

     Douglas Murray McGregor-

1906 –1964, a management professor at the MIT Sloan School of Management.  He was president of Antioch College from 1948 to 1954. In 1960, he published the book, The Human Side of Enterprise.  It had a profound influence on education practices (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douglas_McGregor).

     Mr.  McGregor models his works after Hawthorne and Maslow. The Human Side of Enterprise, advances the thesis that managers should give more attention to the social self-actualizing needs of people at work ( https://www.amazon.com/Human-Side-Enterprise-Annotated/dp/0071462228).
McGregor insisted that managers shift their view of human nature away from a set of assumptions he called Theory X and toward ones he called Theory Y. Managers shouldn't be hard on their workers.

     Theory X-
X Managers believe workers approach their jobs only to dislike work, lack ambition, are irresponsible, are resistant to change, and prefer to be led rather than to lead. 

     McGregor considers such thinking inappropriate. It is degrading, and unfair to group everyone in this manner.  D. M.  pushed for Theory Y.

     Theory Y-
Y Managers believe people are willing to work, capable of self-control, willing to accept responsibility, imaginative and creative, and capable of self direction.

     According to McGregor Theory X, X Managers are likely to agree with:

-A good paying, secure job is enough to satisfy most workers.
-Most people are afraid to learn new things in their jobs.
-Most people dislike work.
-A manager should closely supervise and direct the work of subordinates.
-Most people tend to resist change.
-Most people work only as hard as they have to.
-Most people are happiest off of their job.

     According to McGregor Theory Y, Y Managers are likely to agree with:

-A manager should help and coach subordinates in their work.
-Most people like responsibility in their jobs.
-Managers should let subordinates control the quality of their work.
-Most people are creative.
-Workers should be allowed to set their own job goals.
-Most workers really care about the organization they work for.
-A manager should help subordinates advance and grow in their jobs.

     Douglas McGregor's X Y theory is similar to the Hawthorne studies because it has suggested that work behavior is influenced by social, and psychological forces.  Work performance may be improved by better human relations.

     Douglas McGregor's X Y theory is also similar to Abraham Maslow's hierarchy of human needs.  There is a hierarchy of human needs. The concept of self-actualization and the potential for people to experience self fulfillment in their work is important.

     Have you looked at Stoneyfield's focus on the triple bottom line of profits, people, and planet.  Maybe you should check yourself on the facets of hypercompetitiveness.

     Hypercompetitiveness produces false feelings of power, churned self-perception, and thin self-worth.  You find yourself in a position where you hate to lose an argument.  Everything is turned into a contest. Hyper competitiveness produces an unsatisfied feeling with the competition unless you win.  In turn, you begin to reason if it will help you when, taking actions to obstruct your opponent is okay.

     Although competitiveness is highly valued in many business situations, hypercompetitiveness forces individuals to ignore ethical boundaries in their attempts to come out on top.  They may even take actions that are unfair, damage society, or are simply illegal.

     What types of businesses are influenced by the two?   Theory X managers produce, while Theory Y managers produce, propagate longevity, and provide standing quality.  Both of these theories can be sifted, purifiied, and diluted into behaviors that are accepted as good/right, bad/wrong.

     Theory Managers have to cope with giving orders, at some point, so that the job is consistent.

  

How to Solve Quadratic Equations

https://youtu.be/0GrZ49eDjBw

How to Solve Quadratic Equations:

Sucrose State of Mind.

     Is sugar always on your mind?

     It could be, because it is an ingredient in everything you eat.  In sad times and happy times, sugar is there.  Sugar can be the best part of a celebration. 

     Valentine's Day is approaching.  What will you give your honey?

Roses are red

violets are blue

sugar is sweet and so are you!

(Author: Unknown)

     Why is sugar sweet?

"All sugars are sweet because they contain OH groups with particular orientation that can interact with the taste receptors for sweetness on our tongues (http://butane.chem.uiuc.edu/pshapley/GenChem2/B4/index.html)."

     How many different ways have you had sugar?  Sugar can be manipulated into works of delectable art.  Sugar products have their own isles in supermarkets.  It is possible to say that you can't go shopping without picking up a product with sugar in the ingredient.

"At the neurobiological level, the neural substrates of sugar and sweet reward appear to be more robust than those of cocaine (i.e., more resistant to functional failures), possibly reflecting past selective evolutionary pressures for seeking and taking foods high in sugar and calories.  The biological robustness in the neural substrates of sugar and sweet reward may be sufficient to explain why many people can have difficultly controlling the consumption of foods high in sugar when continuously exposed to them(https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23719144)."

     Basically, sucrose/table sugar is recognized as a drug that effects everyone causing addictions in adults and children.

     These sugar addictions can lead to downward spirals in your health.  Sugar crashes take place. A sugar crash is defined as low blood sugar that occurs after a sugar high.  The condition is reactive hypoglycemia (RH). RH works along side serotonin.  Serotonin is a key neurotransmitter linked to well-being, and bodily equilibrium.  This neurotransmitter brings on symptoms such as depression, anxiety, irritability, confusion, and exhaustion. Hypoglycemia has been linked to phobias, self-isolation, suicidal thoughts, rage, and violence.  

Sugar high-
a sudden and brief burst of energy supposedly experienced after the consumption of food or drink with a high sugar content (https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/sugar_rush)

     Individuals are hooked on acquiring a sugar high. There are done healthy alternatives, though.

     Always remember your food groups. Choose wisely.

- Vegetable Group: 2.5 cups total for five servings each day. Choose a variety of vegetables of different colors, including dark green and orange.

- Fruit Group: 2 cups total for four servings each day. Choose a variety of fruits of different colors.

- Milk Group: 3 cups each day. Yogurt, milk, and cheese (low-fat or fat-free versions are best).

- Meats and Beans Group: 5.5 ounces total for two or three servings each day. Lean meats, chicken, eggs, nuts, dried beans/ peas, and fish.

- Oils: six teaspoons or servings each day. Choose mono- and polyunsaturated oils.

- Discretionary Calories: a small amount. An allotment of 100 to 300 calories can be used on foods with fats or sugars, like dessert.

Sucrose- a crystalline disaccharide, C(12)H(22)O(11), the sugar obtained from sugarcane, sugar beet, and sorghum.

     Sucrose isn't the sweetest thing out there. Syrup is 1.5 times sweeter than table sugar.  Sugar isn't a state of mind.  You can choose to stop your sugar addiction.

     In moderation, sugar is ok.  Eat healthy, live healthy, be healthy.

Job ethics

     The ethics scale is working.  It isn't unfairly tipping in either direction.   Employees and management should work as one.

     We must have ethics.  We need to remain honest, and aim towards the right thing at all times.  Always respect your job responsibility.

     Ethical behavior is defined as acceptable behavior, that is high quality. High quality means it is above being good enough.  Are all parties fine with a given situation? This is the question you should ask yourself.

     Is this statement too vague? 

     Well, a variety of individuals could give a variety of different answers as to what can be grouped as ethical behavior.

     Make the right choice when it involves recourse in relation to discrimination, harassment, conflicts of interest, product safety, or organizational resources.  These ethical dilemmas occur sometimes, but they could come all at once.

   Ask yourself, "what if the your decision, and behavior were exposed in the media for all to see?"

     "The utilitarian individualism moral rights and justice views offer alternative ways of thinking about ethical Behavior (Introduction to Management, by John R. Schermerhorn)." 

     Cultural relativism argues that no culture is ethically superior to any other and universalism argues that certain ethical standards apply everywhere.  Simply explained, group acceptance can make a unique behavior normal, as defined through the two terms.

     Google workplace culture is an excellent example. 

     "Gogglers share common goals and visions for the company, but we hail from all walks of life and speak dozens of languages, reflecting the global audience that we serve.  And when now at work, Googlers pursue interests ranging from cycling to beekeeping, from frisbee to foxtrot.  We strive to maintain the open culture often associated with startups, in which everyone is a hands-on contributor and feels comfortable sharing ideas and opinions (https://www.google.com/about/company/facts/)."

     Keep your mind open and maintain high ethical standards. Some jobs provide their employees with ethics training.  There are screening techniques which reflect individuals with high ethical standards.  Added training can help workers better deal with ethical dilemmas in the workplace.

     Ethical codes of conduct - 
what an organization expects of its employees regarding ethical behavior at work.

     Managers' role in influencing the behavior of individuals in the workplace is very important. It is the responsibility of leaders to set a direction for team members. In majority of the cases, it has been observed that immoral managers intentionally choose to behave unethically. Amoral managers do not really pay attention to or think through the ethics of their decisions or actions. Moral managers consider ethical Behavior a personal goal. Whistleblowers expose the unethical acts of others and organizations even while facing career risks for doing so.  Whistleblowers tend to awkwardly give the managers an employee put of view.

    We have a copious amount of responsibilities at work.  Social responsibility is an obligation of organizations to act in ways that serve both its own interests and the interests of its many stakeholders.  Companies have to make necessary precautions to ensure everything is okay.  An organization's social performance can be evaluated on how well it meets economic, legal, ethical, and discretionary responsibilities.  If the performance is less than par, demands are made.  Corporate strategies in response to demands for socially responsible behaviour include obstruction, defense, accommodation, and proaction.

     Upper management has to be equally as responsible.  Corporate governance is the responsibility of a board of directors to oversee the performance of the organization's top management.

     The ethics scale is working. It is fair to all parties involved. 

Stress Inhibits Peristalsis

     Have you ever been stressed, and then you couldn't eat?  Or, just the opposite, you were stressed, so you over ate.

     Why does stress alter our eating ?

     Stress is defined as a state of mental tension, and worry caused by a variety of issues, whether big or small.  Stress can be small, for example, not knowing what to order in a restaurant.  Stress can be big, for example, preparing a speech before addressing the nation as a new president.  The environmentally, and self imposed stress levels change human internal equilibrium.  Hormones are released.

          "When a person experiences stress, the brain releases a chemical called corticotrophin releasing factor (CRF). CRF triggers a cascade of other chemicals which eventually cause the release of the stress hormone, cortisol, from the adrenal glands,...(https://adrenalfatigue.org/blog/tag/stress-and-digestion)."

          "Corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF), a 41 amino acid-containing peptide, appears to mediate not only the endocrine but also the autonomic and behavioral responses to stress (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9854171)."

     Stress can impede peristaltic activity. Stress hormones are the primary ingredients of our fight or flight response. If we don't use the  energy and added benefits of the increase in adrenaline, our body has to systemically cope.  The chemicals are stagnant when they aren't used.  The gastrointestinal tract is blocked for efficiency in a fight,  whether it is a physical, mental, or emotional fight. Peristalsis activities decrease.

     What is peristaltic activity, you might ask.

          "Peristalsis: The rippling motion of muscles in the digestive tract. In the stomach, this motion mixes food with gastric juices, turning it into a thin liquid (http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/mobileart.asp?articlekey=4839)."

     Gastrointestinal means that the location is in the intestines, or gut.  Gastrointestinal activities include ingestion, and propulsion.  Peristalsis  is part of propulsion inside of the GI tract.

     The peristalsis regulating hormone, CRF functions in an enzyme-substrate relationship with CRF receptors.  CRF receptors are localized in more parts than the brain.  CRF receptors are in the entrails, too. CRF impacts the digestive system directly. The impacts may be experienced as constipation, pain, or gastrointestinal upset. Stress can also alter intestinal permeability. Intestinal permeability rates how easily the walls of the intestines permit different substances to pass through.  The walls of the intestines are supposed to block poisons, but if they don't it is detrimental to our health.

Effects of Increased Intestinal Permeability:

abdominal bloating

indigestion

joint pain

food allergies

fuzzy thinking

rashes

mood swings

fatigue

hay fever

anxiety

depression

digestive problems

headaches

heart disease

sleep problems

weight gain

memory and concentration impairments

(https://adrenalfatigue.org/blog/tag/stress-and-digestion/)

     The positive purposes of the stress hormones are to activate the fight-or-flight system.   In our fast-paced world the fight-or-flight system seems to be activated in many of us all of the time.

          "Through a combination of nerve and hormonal signals, this system prompts your adrenal glands, located atop your kidneys, to release a surge of hormones, including adrenaline and cortisol. Adrenaline increases your heart rate, elevates your blood pressure and boosts energy supplies (http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/in-depth/stress/art-20046037)."

     Why does stress stop peristalsis?

     Adrenaline heightens all of our senses. Cortisol is the dominant stress hormone. Cortisol increases glucose in the bloodstream.  The use of glucose increases.  Also, the availability of substances that repair tissues proliferates.

     Cortisol primes the body for fight or flight.   For example, before a race you won't have to use the restroom.  Likewise, in a fight you won't have to run to the restroom.  This hormone stems nonessential functions for a fight-or-flight situation. It alters immune system responses and suppresses the digestive system, the reproductive system, and growth processes. Cortisol communicates with regions of your brain that control mood, motivation and fear.  Cortisol decreases peristalsis.

     How can stress make you not eat?

     Stress can suppress the appetite. The central nervous system, hypothalamus, produces corticotropin-releasing hormone. The stress response causes the stomach to stop digestion of food. The stress inhibited digestive system curbs peristalsis. All of these actions help us when we're in real danger, but can cause problems if the body experiences stress responses too often.

     How can stress make you over eat?

     High cortisol levels, in combination with high insulin levels, are the targets. Include ghrelin, the hunger hormone, too. Once ingested, fat- and sugar-filled foods have a negative feedback effect that inhibits activity in the parts of the brain that produce and process stress and related emotions. These are comfort foods, and they counteract stress.  People begin to crave these foods.

     Stress is a major environmental factor that affects us in many different ways. It can change your eating habits.  Stress inhibits peristalsis.

Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs)

     Are you looking to invest money?

     Smart investments are made via Exchange Traded Funds.

     Your investment account may be large or small.  ETFs aren't biased.  They have been compared, functionally, with mutual funds.

     Compared with a mutual fund, an ETF is a collection of stocks or bonds.

     ETFs are track indexes, for example, NASDAQ-100 Index, S&P 500, Dow Jones, etc. When you buy shares of an ETF, you are purchasing shares of a portfolio.  The portfolio tracks the yield and return of its native index.  ETFs don't try to outperform their corresponding index, but simply replicate its performance. They don't try to beat the market, they try to be the market.

     ETFs have been around since the early 1980s, but they've become popular within the past 10 years.

     How are ETFs priced?

    "An ETF’s underlying net asset value is calculated by taking the current value of the fund’s net assets (the value of all securities inside minus liabilities) divided by the total number of shares outstanding. The net asset value, or NAV, is published every 15 seconds throughout the trading day (http://guides.wsj.com/personal-finance/investing/how-to-choose-an-exchange-traded-fund-etf/)."

     "Unlike mutual funds, ETFs can also be used for speculative trading strategies, such as short selling and trading on margin. In short, the ETF allows investors to trade the entire market as though it were one single stock (http://www.investopedia.com)."

     Etfs are smart investments.